Churches mobilize to aid Hurricane Helene victims in North Carolina

In response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, a group of United Methodist churches from South Carolina quickly organized to bring much-needed supplies to Marion, North Carolina, in McDowell County.

The initiative began when the Rev. Ashley McCoy-Bruce—who grew up in Marion and still has family there—reached out to Rev. Meg Sweeney Cook for help. Cook, a former director of Christian education at First UMC, Marion, who now pastors Grace UMC in Columbia, tapped into her local connections to provide immediate support.

Cook contacted Ann Hall, a 911 dispatcher for McDowell County, who helped connect the churches to local aid efforts. From there, the Columbia District United Methodist churches rallied to gather supplies in less than 36 hours.

“It felt so good to be able to have a direction and opportunity for the concern I held in my heart,” said Ann Shelton from Grace UMC.

Grace UMC’s response was so overwhelming that the United Methodist Men rented a U-Haul truck to transport the donations.

McCoy-Bruce also reached out to the Columbia District’s clergywomen network. Several churches responded: Columbia, Grace, Washington Street and Asbury Memorial UMCs of the Columbia District as well as Bethel and Wesley Memorial of Chester.

The supplies were then loaded onto a flatbed trailer by the Morgan family at Wesley Memorial UMC in Chester and delivered to Solid Rock Baptist Church in Marion, a point of distribution through the McDowell Emergency Management.

McCoy-Bruce connected with Mike and Christi Morgan of Marion through a Facebook page, “You Know You’re From Marion, NC,” and with the help of her cousin confirmed their ability to make the run.

In total, more than $4,000 worth of essential water and supplies—including flood buckets, health kits and women’s kits previously collected by the South Carolina Conference—were sent.

“The aid station workers were thrilled,” said the Morgan family. “They told us they had served 10,000 people and desperately needed the water we brought.”

McCoy-Bruce said, “This ‘load’ is my love letter to Marion, North Carolina—my hometown. As a disciple, I believe word has to be followed by action. Thanks be to God for making this way by many hands and hearts working together!”

Hurricane Helene was an unforeseen and devastating storm, but the quick and compassionate response of the United Methodist Church made a significant impact.

“I am so proud of my church, both Grace UMC and the greater UMC,” Cook said. “It is amazing how the connectional system of The United Methodist Church stepped up to the challenge so quickly.”

This collective effort demonstrated the strength of The United Methodist Church’s connectional system and the power of faith in action during a time of crisis.